Tibetans hold festival for non-violence in Ahmedabad

January 22, 2008

TibetNet
Friday, 18 January 2008,

Ahmedabad: Scores of visitors flocked in at the Kanoria Centre of Arts
to get a glimpse of Tibetan culture and heritage on the opening day of a
five-day festival of Tibet for non-violence, which kicked-off on 16
January in Ahmedabad.

The five-day Tibet festival is being hosted by the Department of
Information and International Relations (DIIR) of the Central Tibetan
Administration, Kanoria Centre for Arts, Darpana Academy and Alliance
France d'Ahmedabad.

In her opening remarks, Mrs Kesang Y. Takla, Kalon for the DIIR, said,
"Tibet is a guinea pig of sorts - an experiment that has to work, to
show the world that violence is never the answer. Short term resolutions
at best, is all that violence can beget, apart from more violence, of
course. If we succeed in our struggle, the world will take note of the
fact that there is an alternative to the route of war. It is to this end
that the Central Tibetan Administration-in-Exile is very pleased to
facilitate this sharing of our culture."

Stressing on the importance of holding the festival in the land of
Mahatma Gandhi, Kalon Kelsang Y Takla said, "This great city is the land
of Gandhi and non-violence. Even His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been
greatly inspired by the teachings of Gandhi and it is significant that
we are holding the festival here.

This will help people know about our culture and heritage and also help
us share the story of our non-violent struggle for our homeland with
them". Mrs Mallika Sarabhai, the director of Darpana Academy and one of
co-host of the festival said, "Gujarat, more than any place, needs to
reiterate the message of non-violence."

She added, "The facts are horrifying and need to understand. We support
the Tibetan struggle and non-violent must lead to a new path for the world."

The festival includes a plethora of exhibitions-both at Darpana Academy
and Kanoria.

The exhibitions at Kanoria include photos of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, a traveling exhibition titled A Long Look Homeward which provides
a vivid perspectives of Tibetan struggle for freedom, and traditional
thangka paintings from Norbulingka Institute.

The exhibition underway at the Darpana Academy is on the Tibetan
assistance during the Gujarat earthquake.

Mrs Annick Chandra Pelle, director of the Alliance Francaise d'
Ahmedabad said, "It is amazing that despite the geographical proximity
of the two countries, we in India know very little about Tibet. This
exhibition is an effort from our part to remedy that and place Tibet in
the public consciousness."

The other programmes on the first day includes, a lecture on Tibetan
medicine by Dr. Pema Dorjee of the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute,
and screening of the film The Cup at Natarani Theatre at Darpana
Academy, which attracted a sizable audience.